RRI.CO.ID, Palu - A resident of Dongi-Dongi Village in North Lore, Poso, Central Sulawesi has discovered a significant megalithic artifact within the borders of the Lore Lindu National Park (TNLL). The discovery, reported on Thursday, March 5, 2026, is cause for urgent concern as the site is located directly within an active illegal gold mining zone slated for excavation by heavy machinery.

The artifact features a large stone with a distinct human face carving, bearing a striking resemblance to the Kalamba stones famous in the nearby Napu Valley.

The discovery was captured in a video uploaded by a local resident, Antun Lawani Mosiang, showing the stone situated near a "soaking area" where soil is processed for gold. The resident expressed deep anxiety over the imminent destruction of the site, as the area is reportedly under the control of a company prepared to use excavators for large-scale digging.

“This is a very unique find. There is a picture of a human face on this stone, just like in Napu. If possible, there needs to be a rescue effort... because this is all about to be dug up by excavators,” the resident pleaded in the viral video, as quoted by Antara.

The Dongi-Dongi region has long been a hotspot for Unlicensed Gold Mining (PETI). Despite official permanent closures in December 2021, illegal activity, often driven by miners from outside the region, has frequently resurfaced.

The presence of a human-faced megalith in this specific location suggests that the ancient civilization of Central Sulawesi extended further than previously mapped. Experts fear that without immediate intervention, a vital piece of Indonesia's prehistoric puzzle could be crushed and lost forever to the search for gold.

The discovery of the megalithic site highlights a significant double threat to the region's heritage. First, it underscores the ongoing Ecological Destruction, as illegal mining activities continue to degrade the vital conservation forests of the Lore Lindu National Park.

Furthermore, the situation poses a severe risk of Cultural Erasure, where the potential destruction of ancient megalithic remains violates the preservation of Central Sulawesi’s unique and irreplaceable cultural heritage.

Local activists are now calling on the Lore Lindu National Park Authority (BBTNLL) and the regional administration to take decisive action to secure the artifact and halt industrial activities in the immediate vicinity of the find. ***